“You do what we tell you,” she scolded in English as she jerked the rope about his feet and began tying them together. “What do you mean by running off with this little boy?”
As soon as she had finished tying him, she remarked to Florence, “Ask him where he’s taking Carlitos and what he was going to do with him.”
Just as Florence had begun asking him these questions, Carlitos suddenly cried out in terror and pointed to the entrance.
The same instant Florence felt a strong hand clutch her shoulder as the gun was snatched out of her hand.
At Carlitos’ cry of terror Jo Ann’s gaze turned toward the cave entrance. Then cold fear clutched her heart as she saw towering over Florence a great hulk of a man with a long mustache who she instinctively felt must be the mean boss.
CHAPTER XVIII
PRISONERS
Before Jo Ann could spring to her feet, Carlitos was crouching behind her crying piteously, “El jefe! El jefe!”
Jo Ann immediately recognized the name “el jefe” as meaning the boss. She was right. That man was the mean boss!
Just then the boss broke into a burst of coarse derisive laughter that sent shivers down her spine. “Ah, the señoritas muy bravo! They bind the peon who thinks he’s a man but has not the strength of a woman.”
It seemed to Jo Ann that the boss’s huge body almost filled the narrow opening as he stood there with Florence’s gun aimed directly toward them. What could she do now? How could they save themselves and Carlitos? Oh, why hadn’t she taken Florence’s advice and waited for José before coming in here! If only José would come now!